Baltimore Ravens News & Rumors

Ravens Still Pursuing Extension Agreements

Earlier this week, the Ravens ended speculation about Mark Andrews‘ future by working out an extension. Further contract work could be finalized relatively soon.

When speaking to the media on Friday, head coach John Harbaugh said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the team is attempting to sign more players to extensions. No specific names have emerged on that front, but any number of candidates exist for a new deal in Baltimore. The tight end position in particular will be one to watch.

Andrews was a pending free agent prior to his new deal being signed. The same is also true of Isaiah Likely and Charlie KolarBoth 2022 draftees are playing out the final year of their rookie contracts, but it remains to be seen what their value would be on new pacts. Likely flashed potential last season in particular, but he has not managed to emerge as a consistent producer when healthy in 2025. Kolar primarily offers special teams value, although his 40% offensive snap share for this season represents a career high.

Keeping Andrews on the books while also authorizing a notable raise for Likely and/or Kolar would be challenging given Baltimore’s cap outlook. Other notable players on expiring deals include center Tyler Linderbuam and defensive tackle Travis Jones. Linderbaum’s fifth-year option was understandably declined, but he and the Ravens are not believed to be close to an extension agreement. Jones, meanwhile, has played his way into a major raise on his second contract, whether it comes from Baltimore or another team.

Veterans such as edge rusher Kyle Van Noywideout DeAndre Hopkins and safety Alohi Gilman are also on expiring deals. One or more members of that trio could be seen as a priority for a new pact, especially if some of the team’s younger contributors sign for the long term. At the moment, Baltimore is projected to have roughly $47MM in cap space for 2026.

Of course, this comes against the backdrop of a Lamar Jackson extension being widely expected. Talks on a deal to lower the two-time MVP’s cap charge for next year (currently set at $74.5MM) have taken place, and finalizing a new pact would provide clarity on the team’s financial outlook moving forward. That, in turn, could allow for other deals to be budgeted for prior to the start of the new league year in March. As the Ravens continue to vie for top spot in the AFC North down the stretch, it will be interesting to see if they can take of more financial business as well.

Ravens, Mark Andrews Agree On Extension

Mark Andrews will not be testing free agency. For the second time, the accomplished tight end has agreed to a Ravens extension.

The longtime Lamar Jackson target agreed to a three-year deal worth $39.3MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. The through-2028 deal includes $26MM guaranteed. This deal comes months after rumors swirled about an Andrews trade. Instead, the Ravens’ all-time receiving leader has secured a nice guarantee and will stick around.

Baltimore has secured Andrews at a lower rate compared to his 2021 extension. Considering the cap’s rise by nearly $100MM in that span, this represents good value for the team. Andrews had entered the season on his four-year, $56MM extension. This one checks in just south of that in AAV, at $13.1MM. That ranks sixth among tight ends.

The tight end market has not moved too much since Andrews’ first Ravens payday. George Kittle and Trey McBride moved the bar to $19MM this offseason, one that included Ja’Marr Chase dragging the receiver benchmark past $40MM per year. As Andrews’ position continues to make modest gains, the Ravens were able to construct a reasonable third contract to quiet doubts about his future and provide some much-needed clarity on the club’s post-2025 tight end situation.

A March rumor suggested the Ravens could trade Andrews this year, while Eric DeCosta‘s initial assessment of the situation did not assure the top pass catcher in franchise history would play an eighth season in Maryland. That noise quieted, but the Ravens had received trade interest on Andrews this offseason. With the team also interested in extending Isaiah Likely, it certainly looked reasonable Andrews could hit free agency and depart come March.

This extension does come at an interesting point. Andrews turned 30 in September and has seen his yards-per-catch average drop to 9.0. The dynamic tight end had not previously finished a season below 11.5, posting 12-plus-yard averages in all but one year from 2018-24. The Ravens did play without Lamar Jackson for a three-game stretch, and the superstar quarterback has not flashed MVP-caliber form in recent weeks. The Ravens are obviously confident Andrews still has prime form remaining, though it will be interesting to see the full guarantees in this deal.

The Ravens franchise has struggled to identify long-term receiving pieces. Only three players in franchise history have compiled more than 4,000 yards. Two of them are tight ends — Andrews and Todd Heap. Andrews eclipsed Derrick Mason‘s franchise yardage record this season; Mason was a Titans cap casualty who joined the Ravens ahead of his age-31 season. As the team has failed to groom a long-term receiving piece out of the draft — though, Zay Flowers may have something to say about that — it also missed on first-round tight end Hayden Hurst in 2018. Fortunately, Baltimore doubled up at TE in that draft by circling back via Andrews at No. 86.

Andrews has three Pro Bowls on his resume, including a 2021 season that produced 1,361 yards and a first-team All-Pro nod. Considering Travis Kelce and George Kittle‘s primes coming during this period, first-team All-Pro accolades were hard to come by. Andrews added 847 receiving yards in 2022, a second straight year bringing a late-season Jackson injury.

After suffering a major ankle injury in 2023, Andrews returned to play 17 games last season. Although Likely ate into some of Andrews’ receiving opportunities, the enduring presence totaled 673 receiving yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns to help Jackson to a second straight first-team All-Pro nod.

This season, Andrews has just 332 receiving yards. Though, he has scored five TDs. Pro Football Focus also ranks Andrews as a top-20 run blocker at the position. Likely missed the team’s first three games due to injury but has been active since. The fourth-year TE has 18 receptions for 223 yards and no scores. This extension could point the younger option to the market, but Likely re-up talks were believed to be on Baltimore’s docket. A franchise tag was even floated as a possibility.

With Andrews locked down, Likely may well have a chance to test the market. While the Ravens have until early March to negotiate exclusively with Likely, his FA price tag could make a return unreasonable.

OL Rumors: Teller, Bears, Packers, Ravens

Wyatt Teller has been with the Browns since 2019, as the team made a savvy trade with the Bills to acquire a talented blocker who had not hit his stride just yet. The 2018 fifth-round pick has been selected to three All-Pro teams (as a second-teamer) and three Pro Bowls. Teller was a linchpin of Browns O-lines that paved lanes for Nick Chubb and produced two playoff berths this decade. But that group could splinter soon. Teller joins Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin as longtime Cleveland blockers on expiring contracts.

The Browns lost Teller to a calf injury against the 49ers, but they had already cut into his workload in what The Athletic’s Zac Jackson calls a preplanned benching. This brought ex-Bears starter Teven Jenkins into the lineup, which NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes was by design. Jenkins is also in a contract year, signing for one season at $3.1MM. He has not started a game in Cleveland, but that is expected to change this week. As Jenkins prepares to replace Teller due to injury, the Browns having planned to reduce his playing time already points to a likely 2026 exit for the seven-year starter.

Teller said earlier this season he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, and a new deal was believed to be under consideration as of September. Unlike Bitonio, the 31-year-old has not been linked to retirement. Teller’s four-year, $56.8MM extension voids on Feb. 10, 2026; no extension by that point would leave $10.39MM on Cleveland’s 2026 cap sheet. While Teller could expect to draw free agency interest, it will be worth following if he reacquires his starting job after this calf injury. Jenkins has plenty to play for as well, after his market underwhelmed this past offseason.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:

  • The Bears also made another change at left tackle, inserting Ozzy Trapilo into their lineup to open their Black Friday matchup. Trapilo replaced Theo Benedet against the Eagles, helping the Bears compile a stunning 281 rushing yards in a road upset. Ben Johnson pointed to the second-round rookie, primarily a right tackle at Boston College, receiving more time at LT. The first-year HC called Trapilo “an ascending player,” via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma, and hinted at more reps coming his way. Benedet, who started seven games after usurping Braxton Jones, worked as a reserve against Philly. Considering Jones’ likely free agency departure, Trapilo seemed on track to receive a chance. Given Chicago’s success up front this season, plenty of eyes will be on the 6-foot-8 newcomer playing on a veteran O-line. Pro Football Focus ranks Benedet 67th among tackles.
  • Green Bay also made a Week 13 change involving a second-round O-lineman, inserting Anthony Belton into its lineup at right guard over Jordan Morgan. After Belton ate into the first-round pick’s time in Week 12, he took over as the starter against the Lions. The Packers had alternated first-half series between Morgan and Belton in Week 12, but as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes, Belton worked the entire second half. It appears the job is his. A 2024 first-rounder, Morgan has been unable to find a home on Green Bay’s O-line. He has competed at guard and left tackle. With Rasheed Walker likely departing as a 2026 free agent, Morgan’s next chance to start (barring injury) could come then. Schneidman points to Morgan moving to that spot if/once Walker departs in March.
  • Staying on the subject of O-lineman rotating into action, Ravens rookie Emery Jones did so at left guard Thursday. Jones, who came off Baltimore’s reserve/NFI list in late October, played 16 snaps in his debut. John Harbaugh pointed to more work, though the 18th-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) it is unlikely Jones will be cross-trained at RG as well. Primarily a college tackle, Jones cut into Andrew Vorhees‘ playing time at LG in Week 13. A 2024 seventh-rounder, Vorhees has started every Ravens game there this season.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/25

Twenty-one different teams made practice squad transactions on Tuesday. Here are the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: CB Jalen Kimber 

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Released: WR Kyrese Rowan

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Released: OL Wyatt Bowles

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: OL Kion Smith
  • Released: OL Braeden Daniels

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: DB Daequan Hardy

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

With J.J. McCarthy close to a return from his concussion, the Vikings parted ways with Ridder. He was signed last week after McCarthy entered concussion protocol, but was not elevated to back up Max Brosmer in Week 13. That responsibility instead went to John Wolford, who remains in Minnesota.

Bishop was released by the Steelers at the beginning of November. After appearing all 17 games last year with a 50% snap share, he did not make the 53-man roster this season and remained on the practice squad. He will now join the Saints in the hopes of making his 2025 debut in New Orleans.

Ravens Designate OLB Tavius Robinson, S Ar’Darius Washington To Return

The Ravens designated outside linebacker Tavius Robinson (injured reserve) and safety Ar’Darius Washington (non-football injury list) to return to practice on Tuesday.

Robinson broke his foot in Week 6 and was placed on IR shortly after. Washington suffered a torn Achilles during offseason training and has been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp. The two defenders could provide a late-season boost to a Ravens defense that has turned things around after a rough start to the season.

Robinson, 26, started the first six games of the season and saw a substantial increase in playing time after Kyle Van Noy went down in Week 2. The Ravens were hoping the 2023 fourth-round pick would take a third-year leap after a promising campaign last season, but it has not quite materliazed. Robinson made a few highlight plays, including a strip-sack of then-Browns quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 2, but like the rest of Baltimore’s edge rushers, he struggled to make a consistent impact.

Robinson’s return will nonetheless give the Ravens another option off the edge. After trading Odafe Oweh in October, they have relied on 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo and veteran Carl Lawson to fill the back end of their outside linebacker rotation. Ojabo has not performed well, while Lawson held up but did not excel in his 2025 debut as a practice squad elevation in Week 13.

Washington tore his Achilles in May with the hope of returning late in the regular season. His return to practice puts him on track to hit that goal. His 21-day practice window will expire at the beginning of Week 17, by which time he must be activated or revert to season-ending IR.

The severity of Washington’s injury may require a lengthy ramp-up period, and the Ravens can ease him into action even after he’s activated. The team currently has three safeties playing nearly full-time, so Washington will not fill an immediate need. Instead, he will provide another versatile option with the ability to line up as a free safety and in the slot.

Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order

Week 12 saw the Giants become the first team in the NFL to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Based on Sunday’s results, another two teams from each conference saw their postseason chances officially come to an end.

The Titans, Saints, Raiders and Cardinals have now been eliminated as well. Attention in the case of those teams will increasingly turn toward the offseason. For some, questions about changes at the quarterback spot will be ongoing through the spring. Free agency is not expected to include many notable options, so the draft will be sought out in several instances as a means of finding a 2026 starter.

Of course, the incoming class of passers has largely underwhelmed this season. That has led to uncertainty regarding the ceiling for many of the top prospects at the quarterback position. Nevertheless, supply often outweighs demand at the top of the Day 1 order in the NFL draft. How things shake out over the closing weeks of the season will be key in determining which QB-needy teams find themselves in the best position to select a new QB1.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.

Here is an early look at the first-round order:

  1. Tennessee Titans (1-11)
  2. New York Giants (2-11)
  3. New Orleans Saints (2-10)
  4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
  5. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
  6. Washington Commanders (3-9)
  7. New York Jets (3-9)
  8. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
  9. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
  10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
  11. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
  12. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
  13. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
  14. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
  15. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
  16. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
  17. Detroit Lions (7-5)
  18. Houston Texans (7-5)
  19. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
  21. Buffalo Bills (8-4)
  22. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
  23. New York Jets (via Colts)
  24. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
  25. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
  26. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
  27. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
  28. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
  29. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
  30. Denver Broncos (10-2)
  31. Chicago Bears (9-3)
  32. New England Patriots (11-2)

Ravens’ Ar’Darius Washington, Tavius Robinson Nearing Return

A May Achilles tear threatened to end Ar’Darius Washington‘s 2025 season well before it began. The Ravens defensive back has continued to make progress in his recovery, though, and another step could be coming soon.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach John Harbaugh said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) there is a “good chance” Washington will take part in practice this week. The 26-year-old landed on the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, and he has remained there ever since.

Washington has aimed to play late in the season, and the latest update on his situation noted a return to practice was a distinct possibility. Provided the former UDFA can indeed suit up at some point in 2025, he will provide the Ravens with another option in the secondary. Washington emerged as a starter at the end of last season, notching 64 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass deflections.

Returnee Kyle Hamilton, first-round rookie Malaki Starks and trade acquisition Alohi Gilman are in place as safety contributors right now (although since Gilman’s arrival Baltimore has used Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage). If he is activated, Washington would provide the Ravens with a special teams presence capable of rotating in at safety as well as slot corner. As a pending free agent, Washington seeing any game time down the stretch would provide a boost to his market value.

Harbaugh also said third-year edge rusher Tavius Robinson is a candidate to return to practice in the coming days. The 26-year-old has been on IR since suffering a broken foot, an injury which led to the first missed game action of his career. Once Robinson is activated, he will be expected to return to a starting defensive role and in doing so provide the Ravens with a much-needed boost along the edge.

In other injury news, Harbaugh said running back Justice Hill – who landed on IR just before the Ravens’ Thanksgiving game – will be recovering from his neck injury over the next three to four weeks (h/t Zrebiec). A return in time for the postseason could be in store as a result. Meanwhile, undrafted rookie linebacker Chandler Martin recently suffered an ACL tear, so he will undergo season-ending surgery soon. Martin made three appearance on special teams in 2025.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/27/25

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are the holiday’s minor NFL transactions and some standard gameday elevations for today’s night game and tomorrow’s Black Friday game:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Philadelphia Eagles

Newman and Brown were removed from the Bears’ 53-man roster as corresponding moves to make room for their two activations off injured reserve today.

Martin is being called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for the third time this year. If the Ravens would like him to play in any more games after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.

Lampkin was designated to return from IR back on November 6, and his 21-day practice squad window has come and gone without an activation by the Eagles. The undrafted rookie out of North Carolina will spend the rest of his rookie season on IR, as a result of not being activated.

Ravens Place RB Justice Hill, DT Taven Bryan On IR

Justice Hill and Taven Bryan have already been ruled out for the Ravens’ game tonight against the Bengals. Both veterans will be unavailable for an extended period.

Hill and Bryan have been moved to injured reserve, per a team announcement. As such, today’s Thanksgiving finale will mark the first of at least four games they are required to miss. A neck ailment has shut Hill down for the time being; Bryan has a knee injury.

As was the case last year, Derrick Henry has led the way in terms of backfield usage for Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer has essentially alternated between productive and quiet games in 2025, however, adding to the importance of the Ravens’ other backfield options. That has included Hill, whose seven-year career has been spent exclusively with Baltimore.

The 28-year-old has received more than three carries only once so far this season, but he has remained a regular presence in the passing game. Hill’s injury ensures he will not come close to matching the career-high 42 receptions he made in 2024, but his absence will be felt moving forward. Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali will serve as Henry’s backups down the stretch.

Since the season-ending neck injury suffered by Nnamdi Madubuike, depth along the defensive interior has been a question for the Ravens. Bryan joined the team’s practice squad in September, and he has since found his way onto the active roster. A veteran of 118 games, he has made five appearances in a rotational capacity this season. Bryan’s absence will lead to an increased workload for the likes of Travis Jones, John Jenkins and Brent Urban along the D-line.

The Ravens designated edge rusher Adisa Isaac and receiver Dayton Wade for return from IR during roster cutdowns, meaning their activations have already been accounted for. The team has yet to use any of its remaining six activations so far, but in Hill and Bryan’s case doing so will be needed if they are to play again this season.

Ravens Altering Lamar Jackson’s Weekly Prep After Injuries

After a four-week absence earlier in the year, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson came back to salvage a 1-5 start to the year, building momentum off of a Tyler Huntley win over the Bears to continue what would become a five-game win streak that brought them up to 6-5 and first place in the AFC North. Despite the team success, there have been questions about whether or not Jackson is back to full health, and a look at his practice participation may provide clues to the answers.

It was a hamstring injury that held Jackson out for three games. He was able to get three practices in before his Thursday night return in Miami, and he got a full week of practices in for the trip to Minnesota right after. But, following the win over the Vikings, Jackson missed the team’s first practice of the week with a knee injury before fully participating for the rest of the week before the Cleveland game. Last week, we saw Jackson sit out on Wednesday, again, this time with an ankle injury, before, again, practicing fully leading up to the matchup against the Jets.

Early Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that, after doing this rest pattern over the past few weeks, Baltimore was considering intentionally resting Jackson every Wednesday, in order to keep him fresh for games. True to the reporting, with the Ravens having an altered practice schedule this week due to a Thanksgiving Day assignment, Jackson sat out of Monday’s practice, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, and returned to the field on Tuesday, mirroring the recently adopted routine. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, this absence was designated as a toe injury, after Jackson reportedly hurt the appendage at the start of the Jets game.

While Baltimore is calling it rest, reporters, opponents, and more are openly wondering if Jackson isn’t still actually dealing with something. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was one such member of the media who speculated that, having played through knee, ankle, hamstring, and toe issues so far this year, Jackson’s performance has been limited since coming back.

In the four games Jackson’s played since returning from injury, he hasn’t rushed for more than 36 yards in a game. And after a strong passing performance at Miami (78.3 completion percentage, four touchdowns), he’s struggled to be efficient as a passer in the team’s last three victories, completing only 57.1 percent of his passes while only throwing one touchdown to two interceptions. It can’t quite be said that he doesn’t have the ability to escape from pass rushers or tuck the ball and break off a 15-yard run, because we’ve seen him do a bit of that recently, but he’s seemed to lack his trademark explosive speed making both his run and pass game suffer as a result. Jackson insists that injuries aren’t affected his play, but until he’s seen breaking off 40-yard scrambles, teams will likely have their doubts.

In other injury news for Baltimore, safety Ar’Darius Washington has started getting some pregame work in as he continues rehabilitation for his Achilles tendon. Zrebiec reports that Washington could see his practice window open soon. This would be big for a Ravens defense allowing the 12th-most passing yards in the NFL. Lining up next to All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton last year, the two helped turn a historically bad Ravens defense into a top performing unit. The Ravens traded for Alohi Gilman early this year, as rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks experienced a bit of a learning curve to start his career, and adding Washington back to the fold would give Baltimore an insanely deep four-man rotation at the backend of their secondary.